Antec High Current Pro Platinum 1000W Power Supply Review

Date: May 21, 2012

Manufacturer: Antec

Tagged: HCP-1000, Antec High Current Pro, 80 Plus Platinum PSU

Introduction and Features

Antec has one of the largest selections of PC power supplies on the market today and their new HCP-1000 Platinum power supply features 1000W of continuous output power and is 80 Plus Platinum certified. The High Current Pro Platinum is the first power supply in a new series that will replace three existing lines, the TruePower Quattro, High Current Pro (80 Plus Gold), and Antec’s Signature series. The High Current Pro Platinum series will be the new top class of maximum efficiency within Antec’s range of power supplies with modular cabling.

The HCP-1000 Platinum is based on a brand new platform, co-developed with Antec’s partner Delta Electronics and combines several new technological developments and features to provide unmatched performance and be the very best power supply possible. The HCP-1000 Platinum incorporates all modular cables with six PCI-E connectors, NVIDIA SLI-Ready certification, ErP Lot 6:2013 compliance, a 7-year warranty and it is being introduced with a MSRP of $269.90 USD.

Here is what Antec has to say about their new HCP-1000 PSU:

“Antec's High Current Pro Platinum series is the pinnacle of power supplies. High Current Pro Platinum is fully modular with a revolutionary 20+8-pin MBU socket for the needs of tomorrow. By using a PSU that is 80 PLUS® PLATINUM & ErP Lot 6: 2013 certified, operating up to 94% efficient, you can reduce your electricity bill by up to 25% when compared to many other power supplies. HCP Platinum's innovative 16-pin sockets create a new level of flexibility by doubling the modular connectivity, supporting two different 8-pins connectors and even future connectors of 10, 12, 14 or 16-pins. Backed by a 7 year warranty and lifetime global 24/7 support, the HCP-1000 Platinum embodies everything a power supply can accomplish today.”

Antec High Current Pro Platinum 1000W PSU Key Features:

• 1000W continuous power output at 50°C
• 80 Plus Platinum Certified (up to 94% efficient)
• Four High Current +12V rails with high maximum load
• 100% +12V output for maximum CPU and GPU support
• Quiet 135mm double ball bearing fan
• Thermal Manager – advanced low voltage fan controller
• All Japanese brand, heavy duty capacitors
• PhaseWave Design server-class, full-bridge LLC topology
• NVIDIA SLI-Ready certified (six PCI-E connectors)
• Active PFC with Universal AC line input
• ErP Lot 6:2013 Compliant
• Fully modular sleeved cables
• Protection: OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OPP, OTP, SIP, NLO and BOP
• Antec AQ7 7-year warranty and lifetime global 24/7 support

Continue reading our review of the HCP-1000 Platinum PSU!

Not everyone needs a kilowatt; check out Cooler Master's Extreme 450W PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 18, 2012 - 04:56 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: cooler master, Extreme 2 475W, PSU

There is a lot going for the CoolerMaster Extreme 2 450W for non-power users. It costs under $50, it is not much bigger than the 120mm fan that cools it and the 450 on the side offers enough power for many systems. Unfortunately once Hardware Secrets opened the box and tested this PSU they would like to remove your misconceptions. The 450 is not actually the wattage but the model number and this is, at best, a 425W PSU and the quality of power they observed from their tests is abysmal with ripple and voltage drop both exceeding specifications. This is one PSU they recommend you avoid at all costs.

"The new Extreme 2 entry-level power supply series from Cooler Master comes in four different versions: 475 W, 525 W, 625 W, and 725 W. They don't have an active PFC circuit and, therefore, don't carry the 80 Plus certification. Let's take an in-depth look at the 475 W model, which costs only USD 50."

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Source: Hardware Secrets

Coolermaster's new vapourware, the TPC-812 heatsink

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 16, 2012 - 05:29 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: coolermaster, TPC-812, heatsink, heatpipes

Coolermaster's new TPC-812 goes beyond the heatpipes which we have all become familiar with and adds in vapour chambers as well. The vapour chamber works similarly to a heatpipe but instead of heat only being able to travel away in one direction, the chamber allows heat to be dissipated in to directions. Unfortunately in order to properly work it needs to remain quite small in size so while it can quickly spread out heat it needs help from something else to keep that heat moving away. The cooler was fairly noisy when FrostyTech ran the fan at full speed but also offered among the most effective cooling performance and when they dialed the fan back its performance ended up in the middle of the pack but for someone using a moderately powerful CPU and wanting less noise it should move enough heat to remain effective.

"Vapour chambers and heatpipes work on the same principle, the difference is that vapour chambers are planar thermal devices that conduct heat in two dimensions. The two 19x3mm vapour chambers on the Coolermaster TPC-812 heatsink are double-stacked (one vapour chamber on top of three heatpipes), much like the Xigmatek Aegir. Since vapour chambers are planar devices this represents a more efficient application that piling tubular heatpipes on top of tubular heatpipes. Coolermaster's TPC-812 is the first CPU heatsink to pass our test bench employing both vapour chambers and heatpipes in one package."

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Source: Frosty Tech

NZXT Releases Switch 810 Special Edition Cases

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 16, 2012 - 12:28 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: switch 810, special edition, nzxt, cases, atx

Popular case manufacturer NZXT has announced a special edition of it’s Switch 810 computer case. After listening to customer feedback, the company has decided to make the case available in two new colors. Gunmetal and Matte Black are the two new darker themes of the Switch 810.

In a recent press release, NZXT stated that the two new available colors are its way of showing their fans that they do listen to and value feedback.

Specifically, “Without our community’s valuable feedback and criticisms, our products would not be as unique as they are today. We always aim to maintain customer satisfaction through providing high quality products at great prices, which is why we decided to release the Special Edition to feature two of the most demanded color palettes from our loyal fans: Matte Black and Gunmetal.”

The Switch 810 is a full tower ATX case constructed of steel and plastic materials. It features support for up to 10 fans, six internal hard drives, up to an E-ATX motherboard, and plenty of room for custom liquid cooling solutions. The case also provides cable management cut-outs and tool-less drive bays.

The new Special Edition Switch 810 is available for purchase now from NZXT in either Gunmetal or Matte Black colors for $179.99 USD. When we reviewed the original version of the Switch 810, we gave it the PC Perspective Gold Award for its included enthusiast features and good execution. You can find our full review (including video) here.

Source: NZXT

Corsair Enhances GS Series Power Supplies

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 15, 2012 - 03:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, 80 Plus Bronze, PSU, modular psu

FREMONT, California — May 15, 2012 — Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced major upgrades to the GS Series line of high-performance power supply units (PSUs). A new improved design boosts energy efficiency, enabling the new GS Series PSUs to achieve 80 PLUS Bronze certification while also providing quieter, fanless operation at low power loads. The newly enhanced models are available in three wattage models: the GS600, GS700, and GS800.

GS Series power supplies are designed for PC builders who want an affordable, reliable, and efficient power supply that offers visually stunning, customizable looks to match their PC. The power supplies feature user-switchable red, white or blue LED lights that can also be turned off if desired. Further customization is possible with swappable color insert rings which are available for purchase from the Corsair website.

The 80 PLUS certification program was created by utility and computer companies to drive the creation and adoption of more energy-efficient power supplies for desktop computers and servers. Corsair GS Series power supplies now have an upgraded architecture that achieves 80 PLUS Bronze certification to provide up to 85% energy-efficiency under typical usage conditions, resulting in lower energy bills and less heat.

As with all Corsair power supplies, GS Series PSUs offer class-leading voltage stability and ultra-low ripple and noise specifications, for long component life. The 140mm temperature-controlled fan also ensures that GS Series power supplies remain quiet as well as cool. Plus, by operating fanless at load levels below 20% of the model's wattage rating, each GS Series PSU significantly reduces noise levels.

"The GS Series line has been popular with PC enthusiasts who demand quiet, good-looking, and affordable power supplies they can count on,” said Ruben Mookerjee, VP and General Manager for Components at Corsair. “Now we are proud to deliver the next evolution in the GS Series PSU line, with higher-levels of energy efficiency and a new striking, customizable industrial design."

Source: Corsair

Deepcool's tall and thin Ice Wind Pro heatsink

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 10, 2012 - 06:07 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Deepcool, Ice Wind Pro

At 157mm tall the Deepcool Ice Wind Pro stands among the tallest heatsinks but at 86mm deep it is much thinner which also means its weight is lower, at 650g. The heatpipes contact the CPU directly and FrostyTech's measurements show the contact area to be completely flat which is very important for the efficiency of the cooler. The noise generated at low speeds is negligible and even when turned to high to give better cooling performance it is still not very loud. At high speed the cooler does provide good cooling even though it for both AMD and Intel processors, even if it is very slim, so if you are building a system using RAM with tall heatspreaders then this cooler is very much worth considering.

"Deepcool's Ice Wind Pro heatsink is a rather novel CPU cooler for two unique qualities; 1) its heatpipe-to-fin arrangement and 2) the geometry of its leading and trailing fin edges. First off, rather than clusters of heatpipes at the left and right sides of the aluminum fin tower, the eight ends of the heatpipes are lined up straight in a row, 10mm apart, right down the middle of the heatsink. Secondly, the leading/trailing edges of the aluminum fin stack have five large, slightly arc'd diamond cut-outs parallel to the direction of the fins that break up the otherwise monolithic wall."

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Source: Frosty Tech

Thermaltake Announces WATER2.0 Series All-In-One Closed-Loop CPU Liquid Cooler

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 8, 2012 - 04:21 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: thermaltake, watercooling, all-in-one, WATER2.0, WATER2.0 Pro, WATER2.0 Performer

Thermaltake has just released two new all in one watercoolers, the WATER2.0 Performer and WATER2.0 Pro, available right now on NewEgg. The $70 Performer and $100 Pro are very similar, with the Pro offering dual fans and what Thermaltake describes as a Thicker Watercooler, which will offer better cooling thanks to the pair of fans. Check out the full press release below.

City of Industry, California – May 8, 2012 – Thermaltake brought water cooling technology to the mainstream in 2002 with the introduction of Aquarius and BigWater Series of liquid cooling solutions for computer enthusiasts and DIYers. The solutions were developed by garnering enthusiast communities’ experience and feedback, coupled with Thermaltake’s core expertise in thermal management. The goal was to enable PC enthusiasts to achieve higher PC performance by providing additional cooling needed in order for the CPU to run at higher frequency. Today, Thermaltake is introducing its WATER2.0 line of liquid coolers and announcing immediate availability of the all-new WATER2.0 Performer and WATER2.0 Pro all-in-one closed-loop CPU liquid coolers.

The “2.0” in the name denotes the progression and improvements that Thermaltake has made in the performance liquid cooling segment as well as the new approach which WATER2.0 solutions are taking. While traditional D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself) liquid cooling kits offer expandability, the same benefit often complicates installation and filling these coolers introduces a risk of mixing water and electronics. WATER2.0 specifically addresses these concerns by having a closed-loop design, meaning all the fluid that are required for maximum performance are pre-filled and sealed inside so the users do not need to handle any type of liquid during installation or operation.

“WATER2.0 is not a direct replacement of air cooling solutions. The all-new WATER2.0 is an improved performance-driven solution that offers added benefits of simple installation, no-maintenance and extreme reliability to the traditional liquid cooling kit. After a long period of research and development, we came to a point where WATER2.0 has reached the performance standard that Thermaltake has set forth while ensuring a fluid user experience from installation to actual operation. Now is time perfect time to discover an all-new performance-driven alternative CPU cooling solution” commented Ramsom Koay, Director of Marketing for Thermaltake.

^{Water2.0 Pro}

WATER2.0 Series closed-loop CPU liquid coolers are available in three different performance categories that cater to different performance requirements or applications. The WATER2.0 Performer features dual 120mm PWM fans with a high-performance 120mm x 25mm radiator that can be mounted to any chassis with an available 120mm case fan mount. The liquid circulation is handled by a high-efficiency, low-profile pump that sits on top of the all-copper cold plate. The low-profile pump is ideal for high-performance systems where high-end air cooler may interfere with enthusiasts-grade memories that often come equipped with taller heat spreaders. A dual-PWM adapter is also included allowing both included PWM fans to be connected to a single PWM fan header on the motherboard to ensure synchronous fan speed operation.

For more performance, the WATER2.0 Pro utilizes a much thicker radiator, 49mm compared to 25mm found on the Performer model, to dramatically increase the heat-dissipating surface area by almost doubling the doubling the volume of the radiator. The WATER2.0 Pro also includes the same low-profile pump along with dual 120mm PWM fans including the dual-PWM adapter.

^{Water2.0 Performer}

While all of the WATER2.0 CPU liquid coolers provide performance and low-noise operation, WATER2.0 Extreme delivers the ultimate performance by incorporating a double-long (240mm x 25mm) radiator that further increases the available heat-dissipating surface area for maximum cooling power. WATER2.0 Extreme ships standard with dual 120mm PWM fans and it is capable of supporting up to four PWM fans in push-pull configuration. Targeting enthusiasts and overclocking consumers, the WATER2.0 Extreme also comes with Smart Control Software that allows the user to monitor status of various hardware elements within the cooling unit, in addition to creating cooling profiles that best matches the user’s working and gaming environment.

“WATER2.0 Series of closed-loop CPU liquid coolers are not just new products that Thermaltake is introducing,” stated Weller Chen, Director of Product Management at Thermaltake, “WATER2.0 represent a shift in design philosophy from Thermaltake that aligns user experience in the same breath with performance, as consumers can see from the maintenance-free operation as well as simplified installation.” The WATER2.0 Performer and Pro are now available at major retailers in the United States and Canada. MSRP for WATER2.0 Performer is USD $69.99, and USD$99.99 for WATER2.0 Pro. The WATER2.0 Extreme will be available in July at major retailers with MSRP at USD $129.99. For more information, please visit the manufacturer’s product page: http://thermaltakeusa.com/Products.aspx?C=1444.

Source: Thermaltake

FSP goes for Gold with their 1200W Aurum PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 04:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, fsp, aurum pro gold, kilowatt, modular psu

As the name implies, the FSP AURUM PRO GOLD 1200 PSU's efficiency is rated 80 Plus Gold and is capable of an impressive 100A on its single 12V rail. [H]ard|OCP was glad to see that FSP has increased the quality of materials they use in constructing the PSU. This has paid off as the PSU received a Silver Award after passing their torture tests.

"'AURUM' means gold. So today we are showing you the "Gold Pro Gold" from FSP. That is a big name to stand behind. Once past the marketing though, the Aurum Pro Gold looks like a very solid and efficient single rail power supply for the enthusiast needing a heaping supply of wattage in a snazzy looking PSU."

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Source: [H]ard|OCP

Gamer Storm's new heatsink wants to Assassin-ate your heat problems

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 12:59 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Gamer Storm, Assassin, heatsink, heatpipes

Following in the current trend of trying to give your newest heatsink a bizarre name comes the Gamer Storm Assassin, a 5.7" x 6.1" x 6.3" (144 x 154 x 160 mm) dual tower heatsink. The cooler comes with a pair of mismatched fans, a 120mm fan for use on one of the sides of the tower and a 140mm for use in between the towers. That does not seem to have hurt performance at all, Hardware Secrets tests show it to not only be an effective cooler but also one that does not generate excessive noise. It will fit both AMD and Intel sockets, so whichever you are using you might want to ignore the name and consider this cooler for your system.

"The Assassin is the first CPU cooler from Gamer Storm, a brand of cooling products from Logisys/Deepcool, aimed at gamers. This huge cooler has two twin tower heatsinks, eight heatpipes, one 120 mm fan and one 140 mm fan. We already reviewed the Dracula VGA cooler from this brand."

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Source: Hardware Secrets

SilverStone Nightjar ST50NF 500W Fanless Power Supply Review

Author: Lee Garbutt aka Robotech

Date: May 1, 2012

Subject: Cases and Cooling

Manufacturer: SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.

Tagged: SST-ST50NF, Silverstone, Nightjar, Fanless PSU

Introduction and Features

SilverStone was one of the first PC power supply manufacturers to design and market a fanless power supply for silent operation. While many of their competitor’s fanless products have come and gone, SilverStone continues to build on their reputation and later last year released the SST-ST50NF 500W fanless power supply, which is the latest addition to the Nightjar series. We are a little late to the party in reviewing the ST50NF but after talking with the good folks at SilverStone it appears the wait was worth it as they have continued to tweak the design in recent months to improve AC ripple suppression on the DC outputs.

Here is what SilverStone has to say about the Nightjar 500W fanless power supply: The fanless Nightjar series power supplies are long favorites for professionals and enthusiasts alike that require noiseless power solution with no moving parts. With increasing power demands required from modern computers, SilverStone engineers have once again created another fanless power supply with leading output level in ST50NF. With 500W of continuous rating, near 80Plus Silver efficiency, ±3% voltage regulation, single +12V rail, multiple PCI-E connectors, and full host of safety features, the ST50NF is a great choice for mission-critical systems that need to operate in noiseless or dusty environments.

SilverStone Nightjar 500W Fanless PSU Key Features:

• Fanless thermal solution,0 dBA Acoustics
• 500W continuous power output
• 80 PLUS Bronze certified with84%~88% efficiency at 20%~100% load
• Compliance with ATX 12V v2.3 and EPS 12V Specifications
• Strict ±3% voltage regulation
• PCI-E 8-pin and PCI-E 6-pin connectors
• Powerfull class-leading single +12V rail (38A)
• Aluminum construction
• Server-level components
• Universal AC input (100~250V) with Active PFC

Editor’s Note: Fanless PC power supplies occupy a niche market and are targeted towards users who want a silent power supply for use in noise-sensitive areas or who need a power supply that can survive in a dusty/dirty environment that might choke and kill a conventional fan cooled PSU. Fanless power supplies rely on convection cooling and still require airflow in and around the power supply chassis to carry away the waste heat. So while the power supply itself may not have a fan, the computer enclosure must still have some means of creating airflow to keep the CPU, GPU and PSU cool. The last thing you want to do is put a fanless PSU in a closed enclosure without any fans or airflow!

Continue reading our review of the SilverStone 500W Fanless PSU!

Introduction and Features

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 18, 2012 - 04:56 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: cooler master, Extreme 2 475W, PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 16, 2012 - 05:29 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: coolermaster, TPC-812, heatsink, heatpipes

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 16, 2012 - 12:28 PM | Tim Verry Tagged: switch 810, special edition, nzxt, cases, atx

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 15, 2012 - 03:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: corsair, 80 Plus Bronze, PSU, modular psu

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 10, 2012 - 06:07 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: Deepcool, Ice Wind Pro

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 8, 2012 - 04:21 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: thermaltake, watercooling, all-in-one, WATER2.0, WATER2.0 Pro, WATER2.0 Performer

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 04:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: PSU, fsp, aurum pro gold, kilowatt, modular psu

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 12:59 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: Gamer Storm, Assassin, heatsink, heatpipes

Introduction and Features

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 18, 2012 - 04:56 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: cooler master, Extreme 2 475W, PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 16, 2012 - 05:29 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: coolermaster, TPC-812, heatsink, heatpipes

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 16, 2012 - 12:28 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: switch 810, special edition, nzxt, cases, atx

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 15, 2012 - 03:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, 80 Plus Bronze, PSU, modular psu

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 10, 2012 - 06:07 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Deepcool, Ice Wind Pro

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 8, 2012 - 04:21 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: thermaltake, watercooling, all-in-one, WATER2.0, WATER2.0 Pro, WATER2.0 Performer

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 04:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, fsp, aurum pro gold, kilowatt, modular psu

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 12:59 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Gamer Storm, Assassin, heatsink, heatpipes